Fanfic Recs / The Elder Scrolls

Proof that the remaining 10% is worth taking an arrow in the knee for here:

These are recommendations made by tropers for The Elder Scrolls Fan Fics, all of which have to be signed to stay on the page. Feel free to add a fanfic of your own to the list, but remember to use the template found here.

Do warn when a fanfic may head into sexual or non-canon territory. Some people just don't like it, and as we all know, Shipping is Serious Business.

You can also add to the current recommendations if you want. Refrain from posting Conversation in the Main Page though; that goes in the discussion page. Discussion of the recommendation is welcome on the discussion page. As such discussion is important, do remember to add the discussion page to the watchlist if need be.

Authors & Websites

''DeusExFreak's Series: The Rogue Province, Rogue Agent.

• Recommended by: Golden Anuer
• A completed trilogy, Deus Ex Freak's series stands as some of the best Oblivion work on the fanfiction.net.
• His first story, Rogue Province, Rogue Agent, is a Dark Brotherhood-centric story that dosen't involve shipping with two completed sequel, Bedrock of the Betmer and The Price of Power and Value of Hypocrites.
• These two works feature solid writing and interesting yet well-founded twists on Tamrielic lore. For a genfic, these tales are true treats

''SickleYield's Series: Tales From Cyrodiil

• Recommended by: Hekateras
• A truly excellent series of stories set in the same universe but mostly unconnected to each other. Notable for its exotic, gritty and often downright strange choice of characters and premises, the beautifully subtle and realistic friendship and love arcs and the unpredictable storytelling that defies patterns and established norms of how a story should go after this or that.

Heiwako's stories or alternate link

• Recommended by: Blackwingedheaven
• Heiwako's main series follows the Dragonborn from burnt-out hero to Listener of the Dark Brotherhood. It includes three novel-length stories and a collection of novellas and short stories:
  • Darkness Rises When Silence Dies (Complete) (her first lengthy fiction, a little rough in places but still good), which picks up after the main quest with Diana the Dragonborn attempting to figure out what to do with her life now that Alduin is defeated.
  • For the Future of Skyrim (Complete), which deals with the consequences of her becoming Hecate the Listener and working out her anger issues.
  • Breath and Focus (Complete) Another novel-length fiction which follows Hecate through the resolution of the civil war plotline.
  • The Dark Brotherhood Forever (Complete)
• She has also written a series of short stories and novellas about the future of the Dark Brotherhood.
• And Diana Dragonborn (Complete), a prequel about Diana before becoming the hero of legend up through her battle with Alduin.
• Season Unending (Complete) An excellent novel-length story pairing Elenwen and Ulfric of all people. NSFW, though.

Morninglight's: Ysraneth's Tales

• Recommended by: Taiyou-x6
• What do you get when a half-Nord/half-Bosmer woman is raised to both honour the traditional Nord way, but also the Green Pact of the Bosmer? A very... unique... set of dietary requirements to say the least. Make her the Dragonborn and then you've got a party. Morninglight has her Dragonborn go through many an adventure, each contained within a single, short, humorous, story.
• Starting with Ysraneth heading her father's words of Waste Not, Want Not, to questioning The Ethics of Eating a Dragon's Soul, then educating those closest to her on Why Thalmor Hate Diplomatic Immunity, followed by introducing dragons to Thalmor Tenderloin, then we have her very own Wedding of the Year, all culminating to when she becomes The Cannib-Jarl. Enjoy.

ForTalosandtheEmpire's The Dragonblood Saga.

• Recommended by: Faireheart
• A completed series of six stories intercut with a one-shot, starting with Honor Bound. The series follows Imperial thief Mara Fides on her journey as a reluctant hero and savior of the Empire.
• While it's mainly a novelization of Oblivion and Skyrim, the series takes some really unexpected twists culminating in the final story, Dragon Queen, which is has an entirely original plot. Mostly gen fics in practice, but a lot of the overarching plotline focuses on Mara's relationship with Martin Septim.
• The author is currently working on a prequel of sorts, Divine Shadows, about their Nerevarine, who was mentioned a few times in the series and made an appearance in Dragon Queen.

Anything by altariatourney. Literally. Anything. Especially if it's in Oblivion. Keep tissues on hand, you will need them. Not prone to angst, but when he writes grief, you feel it. Aside from the Oblivion works, his Skyrim is wonderful, and less tearjerking, filled with beautiful uses of words.

• Recommended by: Gamacavy

Gen Fics

Stories focused on the family and the friendly relationships of the cast. Plot-focused stories or light day-in-the-life stories. Pretty much anything that isn't focused on romance.

Dragon of the East By Okan-Zeeus

• Recommended by:
• Status: Dormant
• Synopsis: Four souls journey to the north at a time of crisis. Dragons have returned and threaten the land. Now Skyrim's fate lies in the hands of foreigner, a kind Argonian who wears a killer's mantle. He must rise and become the greatest dragon slayer the world has ever known, and he must do it against all odds… for there are those, in the name of justice, who would see him die trying.
• Tags: Fantasy/Adventure
• Comments: Stars a Argonian Dragonborne named Chases the Winds. A Nord Warrior, Reinhardt. An Argonian Thief, Dar-Meena, and the Dark Elf Mage, Falura Andrilo.
• Has several arcs already and you can watch the progress of each chapter here: dragon of the east a skyrim retelling

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Old Fool By Cakes Blargh

• Recommended by:Kayuri Pax
• Status: Dormant
• Synopsis: The last moments and the last journal entry of the Hero of Kvatch. A viewpoint through the eyes of Sheogorath during the Mind of Madness-Quest in Skyrim
• Tags: Humor/Tragedy
• Comments: A realistic and moving depiction of what happens with the Hero of Kvatch after the Shivering Isles. It is written believable and you can practically feel how the Hero changes during the Story, and how he embraces the position of Sheogorath.

The Neveragaine by Helena L

• Recommended by: Rahkshi Lord, Baron Praxis
• Status: Complete
• Synopsis: Ada Ventura just wants to get back to her homeland of Cyrodiil, but a series of bizarre events conspire to force her down the path of the Nerevarine. She can't really be the reincarnation of a legendary Dunmer hero... can she?
• Tags: Humor/Adventure
• Comments: A humorous fic which loosely follows the Morrowind story, a good read.

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I changed my name to avoid my Ex and Accidentally Saved the Universe.

• Recommended by: Gamma Cavy
• Status: Complete
• Synopsis: Two thousand years in Coldharbour may have left Nerevar slightly mad, but that wasn’t about to stop him from taking an opportunity to escape. Tamriel in the Second Era is a wild romp even if a lot of people are very silly. There’s quests to do, things to hit with an axe, and most importantly, staying very far away from the ex-wife who murdered him.
• Tags: Humor/Adventure
• Comments: A competent, if somewhat odd Hortator takes the stage for the Aldmeri Dominion in the time of the Planemeld. Between recruiting enemies, hitting sea elves, spy-baiting, and brushing up on everything he missed; he really wasn't planning to take of the continent. The story seems to be heading that direction anyway, mostly because if he sees a problem, he tries to fix it. And this gets him a lot of support. As the King of the Wood Orcs, newly unofficial second in command for the Aldmeri Dominion, and the elf who sponsored an invasion of Pyadonea just to raid their lumberyards, the story is a yarn you won't forget. Despite the humor, it's surprisingly serous at the same time. The author has fine grasp of the details; and also of the characters.

Images by Sindaheri

• Recommended by: Hekateras
• Status: Complete
• Synopsis: A glimpse of a person, a moment in time. A series of drabbles following the main quest, from midpoint to aftermath. Spoilers within.
• Tags: Angst/Friendship
• Comments: Oblivion's main quest and all of its trials and tribulations condensed, distilled and crystallized into a series of drabbles each roughly ten sentences long. If for nothing else, read it for the awe factor and hope you can someday become as good at putting so much meaning into so few words as the author is.

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Dragon from Ash by [Mortigaunt

• Recommended by: Gamma Cavy
• Status: In-progress
• Author's Summary: "I may be Dunmer, but I am the Dragonborn, and I will defend your people whether they like it or not." Expands on Skyrim. Features fleshed out characters, content from earlier games and apocrypha, alternate choices and consequences for actions. WARNING: Contains mature content, including sexual themes, violence, and in-depth examinations of lore.
• Comments: an Ashlander Dunmer fresh form Morrowind is hardly what anyone would have wanted from the Dragonborn, himself included. But he is what he is, and wishing will not make it otherwise. This is one where the reader is reminded how deep a world Nirn is, far more than a playthrough put to paper. Where dragons remain a threat worthy of the legend, and vampires cause inescapable delays to the quest. Nothing is simple, and even that which is as it seems remains deeper than the casual eye would have it.

Blackbirds by Crisium

• Recommended by: Socially Disoriented
• Status: Complete
• Synopsis': It's not easy being the Master's daughter. Ruma Camoran.
• Tags: Drama
• Comments: A character study of sorts on Ruma Camoran. Mildly angsty, gorgeous writing style. Highly recommended.

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Arvil Bren's Journal by Tim Cummings

• Recommended by: Z Seeker
• Status: DEAD
• Synopsis: Arvil Bren, a wizard of Breton descent, follows a harrowing path across the mysterious island of Vvardenfell. He is a pawn in a game played by unseen powers, by unknown rules.
• Tags: Fantasy/Suspense
• Comments: An excellent journal of Arvil Bren, "a wizard of Breton descent" who goes on to become the Nerevarine. Unfortunately, a Dead Fic. Wordof God says it was because Arvil was too overpowered to be fun to play.

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Forged in Darkness: A Dark Brotherhood Tale by Raven Studios

• Recommended by: Pyrotorch 246
• Status: Complete
• Synopsis: Sarielle left home and walked straight into the arms of the Dark Brotherhood. Now with a traitor threatening the only family she can belong to, Sarielle finds herself one of two who can stop the traitor.
• Tags: Mystery, Adventure, Adult themes, violence, and language.
• Comments: More or less exactly what it sounds like: A novelization of the Dark Brotherhood plotline. It adds a few twists of its own, though, and intersects with the main plot of Oblivion every now and then. Very well written with solid characterization, but it doesn't pull any punches, which means that it is dark. Gets into Lucian/OC territory as well.

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Watermelon Waterfall by Mewgia Mirrorcoat

• Recommended by: Clockwork Lynx, Baron Praxis
• Status: Complete
• Synopsis: All seems lost. The Mythic Dawn stands at the gate of Cloud Ruler Temple. All the Blades have left are five thousand scrolls of Absorb Mercantile and a watermelon...
• Tags: Humor

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Lux ex Tenebris by Senomaros

• Recommended by: Anonymousaccount, Smoodle-Fshoodle
• Status: Dead
• Synopsis: He was a broken, crippled man and she was from a race of semi-mythical monsters. And yet, this peculiar duo is the last, best hope a crumbling Skyrim has for survival. The gods truly have a sense of humor, it seems.
• Pairing(s): OC/OC
• Tags: Fantasy/Romance
• Comments: Features an emaciated captive of the Falmer and a Falmer slave. Together they escape into the surface and generally try to survive. Not only is it well written, but it also gives the Falmer some depth.

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Innocence Lost by blackwingedheaven

• Recommended by Anonymous Account
• Status: Complete
• Synopsis: A Skyrim fanfiction following the life and times of Aventus Aretino, a young boy who loses his mother, and his salvation by the Dark Brotherhood
• Tags: Fantasy, Adventure
• Comments: Set in the same continuity as and acts as a companion story to Heiwako's main series (see above). The author is currently working on a sequel, The Age of Assassins.

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Of Vigilance, Mercy and Insanity by AugustinianFrog

• Recommended by: Anxious Kiwi
• Status: Complete
• Synopsis: Some days you have to settle for what you can get. For a Vigilant of Stendarr, if a bad day involves shadowy plots and the inkling that you are at the whims of Divines and Daedra, you would pray dysfunctional teammates should be the least of your worries.
• Tags: Adventure, and Mystery

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This Many Goblins Left the Cave Written by Dementor, read by Rotten Deadite

• Recommended by: BBQ Platypus
• Status: Complete
• Synopsis: The true story of the creation of Nirn, as retold by goblins
• Tags: Humor
• Comments: Hilarious and surprisingly accurate, especially if you know enough about Elder Scrolls lore to know what they're talking about.

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Blood and Steel by DualKatanas

• Recommended by: piattish
• Status: Complete
• Synopsis: Gorgoth gro-Kharz, a brutal warrior-shaman from Orsinium, didn't expect to end up as the champion of the Nine, acclaimed by many as the Hero of Kvatch. But now that he finally has a cause worth fighting for, he and his new comrades will stop at nothing to defeat Mehrunes Dagon.
• Tags: Adventure

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Keeg's Quest: A Skyrim Adventure by Rich Matheson

• Recommended by: twg92
• Status: ???
• Synopsis: An audio "drama" available on itunes for free. Follows the "Great dragonborn warrior" Ynroh of the House of Keeg as he struggles to find his latest fix of Skooma, overcome his fear of dragons and frolic through fields of flowers. Along the way he is assisted by an elite group of individuals. The story is not a retelling of Skyrim, but rather a unique adventure in the frost covered lands.

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This Is The Moment by Buckshot

• Recommended by: pistachioinfernal
• Status: Complete
• Synopsis: Short one shot drabble about Eorlund's adventure to deliver a blade to the Dovahkiin
• Tags: slice of life
• Comments: It's nice to see a female Dovahkiin who isn't a grim warrior. This fic explores the lighter side of being the hero of Skyrim.

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The Grey by Against.The.Current

• Recommended by: littlekaijuu
• Status: Dormant
• Synopsis: "Helgen is done for and I am calling a complete ceasefire as of this moment." Pacifism has the ironic tendency of throwing those who practice it directly into the line of fire.
• Tags: Adventure, Friendship, A SI story about walking the grey line between morality and destruction.
• Comments: It's a serious take on a Skyrim OC/SI character falling into Skyrim from our world without being dour. It's also pretty cathartic for people who are sick of the Stormcloaks and Imperials still trying to kill each other when there are literally dragons attacking them.

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Dawnguard by 874509

• Recommended by: H Grimes
• Status: Complete
• Synopsis: Mortis, an assassin gets hired by the Dawnguard to do a simple job. He soon realises that the job may not be so simple as more and more details are uncovered. Will he be able to the very simple job of getting Serana home or will the road ahead and what's happened in his past drag him back and destroy him and all those around him.
• Tags: Adventure/Drama
• Comments: "...a normal npc trying to be a hero and his gear and abilities reflect that. a welcome change from other fanfics."

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To Dust by fortunesque

• Recommended by: nuew, sandstorm179
• Status: Dormant; last updated September 2020
• Synopsis: "After a two-hundred year prison sentence in Akavir, a living legend returns to Tamriel only to find it in chaos. Haunted by the memories of her proud people and her past cruelty, will she be able to remember her forgotten skills in time to stop Alduin from destroying the world? (Contains Morrowind and Oblivion tie-ins)" The Nerevarine returns to Tamriel after a 200 year prison sentance in Akavir, only to find that she's also the Dragonborn. Contains some (easily skippable and marked) sexual scenes involving the Nerevarine, Telvanni Master Neloth, Sheogorath (who, after Shivering Isles, is also the Champion of Cyrodiil), and Sanguine.
• Comments: An amazing, well-written Elder scrolls fanfic, which contains interesting perspectives on the events of the game(and has the reader think twice about some of the things the Dragonborn may do ingame). A very immersive, enjoyable, and thought-provoking read.
• Tags: Adventure, __mostly__ Lore Compliant

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Shipping

Stories focused on the romantic relationships between the cast.

Dark Embrace by mfait matresse

• Recommended by: eberfluh
• Status: complete
• Synopsis: The life of the Dragonborn takes a dark turn when she and Serana are discovered in the Volkihar courtyard. The prophecy is the last thing on the Dragonborn's mind when she awakens in chains in front of the lord of the castle.
• Pairing(s): Dragonborn/Lord Harkon
• Comments: the plot in a nutshell: Dating Catwoman, I Hate You, Vampire Dad, Was It All a Lie?, woven beautifully with vivid descriptions, beautiful dialogues, and loads of Termsof Endangerment. Few things I particularly like about this fic is how much it pays attention to existing lore and details in game such as building structure, race and cultural description, and how they are relevant to the plot; characterization is just so realistic and suberb, as if this was written by multiple people; very lore friendly, the author actually paid attention to details NPCs in game mentioned about the dragonborn, so the main character was familiar enough to connect with, but with some flairs that makes her far from boring and still fit with the lore surrounding the db. NSFW.

Like Lightning by jottingprosaist

• Recommended by: sandstorm179
• Status: Ongoing
• Synopsis: A slowburn with bitter arguing, reluctant kinship, and romance in equal measures as the Dragonborn recovers from realistic PTSD, Ulfric is confronted with his major failings, and the plot lines of the game unravel everywhere.
• Pairing(s): Dragonborn/Ulfric Stormcloak
• Comments: An amazing story where instead of escaping the Thalmor Embassy, the Dragonborn was captured and tortured before making it out. It is well-written, and I particularly enjoyed the author's characterization of Ulfric and Malborn.

The Last Scabbard of Akrash by Dibellan Arts

• Recommended by: M Tibbs 1989
• Status: Complete
• Synopsis: When Peliah, heiress to the House Dres slave-dealing dynasty of Morrowind, falls in love with one of her father's Khajiiti slaves, the bodies of her Dunmer suitors begin to turn up mysteriously decapitated. Some call the killer "The Lopper." But Peliah prefers to call him "The Liberator."
• Pairing(s): Peliah/Kazagh
• Tags: Romance, Tragedy, Based on the in-game book appearing in Skyrim, Morrowind, and Oblivion
• Comments: This is a lovely expansion of the in-game book, The Last Scabbard of Akrash and is still in progress. Be warned that it will likely eventually have graphic scenes involving interspecies romance.

Twist of Fate by Pheonicia

• Recommended by: Hekateras
• Status: Complete
• Synopsis: This twisted take on the game story lines explores the topics of fate, love, insanity, sacrifice, and betrayal in a lighthearted fashion. All is not quite what it seems in this unpredictable tale.
• Tags: Adventure/Humor
• Comments: A Doorstopper-length novelization of Oblivion and the adventures of the Hero of Kvatch. Notably, this story incorporates all the major questlines in the game and many of the minor ones, as well, while developing the setting and many minor characters into fully fleshed-out individuals. At the core of it is the fascinating character arc of the protagonist. Filled to the brim with both drama and humour as well as a more logical approach to some of the game's unreasonable elements. An excellent and very satisfying read, well worth the time.
  • Seconded by Derko 5. This is just a great novelization of an already great story. But, I must say that it starts off a little shaky and some twists seem to come from left field, though that should be forgivable considering that this was the author's first attempt at storytelling. A must read for anyone who's played the game.

Anathema by ReaperRain

• Recommended by: Clockwork Lynx
• Status: Dead
• Synopsis: An Elder Scroll is stolen, his bodyguard and only confidant is dead, and Ocato is slowly buckling under the strain of running an Empire without an Emperor. But when Modryn Oreyn lands the position of Chancellor's guard, that all changes.
• pairings(s): Ocato/Modryn
• Tags: Romance/Humor
• Comments: The Oblivion Crisis is over, the Empire is without an heir, and Chancellor Ocato is desperately struggling to keep the Empire together. Then an Elder Scroll is stolen and his bodyguard murdered, and now he needs to replace a woman he has no time to mourn.
• The pairing may be utter crack, but the author makes it work. There is only the merest beginnings of actual romance as of yet, but the slow buildup works fantastically and is quite believable.

This One Time, at a Bandit Camp by Anonymous

• Recommended by: Captain Calliope
• Status: Complete
• Synopsis: Theoretically, the red-headed Dragonborn should be fire in the bed, right? But after some conflicting stories from some drunken twins one late night at the Bannered Mare, the question on everyone's lips is... whose bed?
• Pairing(s): Female PC/Vilkas, Female PC/Farkas
• Tags: Probably Not Safe for Work; the stories are cut off before anything explicit is described, and neither does it focus on the acts themselves.
• Comments: This is easily the funniest fanfic I've ever read. Everything about it, from the premise to the story itself, is just utterly hilarious. The author does an amazing job of giving each of the narrators a distinct voice, and it resolves itself in a way that makes a surprising amount of sense. There are some killer one-liners, too.

Honor and Glory: Book one of the Honor and Glory Trilogy by TheLoneWolfGirl

• Recommended by: Aspiring_Critic
• Status: Complete
• Synopsis: After training for over a year to fulfill my destiny as Dragonborn and defeat Alduin, I knew I would need a challenge. Joining the Companions in Whiterun seemed like the only guild I could ever call home. But I still don't feel quite settled. None of the Companions know I'm the Dragonborn, the savior of Skyrim. I don't want them to know. What would they say if they knew? Would they respect me? Or would they hate me and tell me to leave? Would they scoff at the idea that a woman barely into her adulthood had been the one to save them? Maybe not all of them, but Vilkas, one of the most respected members within the Circle, and one of the most honor-bound men I have ever met, can't seem to fathom that thought. Because of this, I don't know if I could ever tell my new family who I truly am.
• Pairing(s): Female!PC/Vilkas
• Tags: Romance, Adventure, and Action
• Comments: Although this fanfic does not deviate much from the original Companions questline, the canon characters in the story are all portrayed in-character, and the original characters involved in the story are likable and interesting. The author’s descriptions of scenery and fighting scenes are well done, and believable as well, which makes this fic an enjoyable read.

Honor Among Thieves: The Unwilling Nightingale by MadameHyde

• Recommended by: Eagle Fox
• Status: Complete
• Pairing(s): Female!PC/Brynjolf
• Summary: Tiberia Morwyn has been cracking skulls for the Stormcloaks ever since she took care of Alduin, but her latest assignment, infiltrating the Thieves Guild, leaves her wondering what, exactly, she stands for, and who, exactly, she stands with. When her past catches up to her present, it's all she can do to bunker down before the firestorm.
• Tags: Drama, Hurt/Comfort
• Comments: I started off thinking this would be yet another typical follow the quests line for line story. I was sorely proven wrong. This is no simple retelling of the story. It's a new spin to a familiar story and the author does it beautifully by using her character to build and add to the characters we already know and love.

Dyce the Incredibly Easy Breton by mongoose_bite

• Recommended by: nothinggoeshere
• Status: Complete
• Synopsis: These are the stories of Dyce, an incredibly easy-going and easy-coming Breton Dragonborn, and all the interesting people he meets while adventuring across Skyrim.
• Pairing(s): Male!DB/many, many, many characters of many genders and races
• Tags: NSFW
• Comments: As a series of Kink Meme fills, this is definitely not safe for work, but it's no ordinary porn, either. The time and care the author puts into Dyce, his lovers, and the hijinks they get up to is incredible, making every fic refreshing and new and definitely worth a read, even if the pairings or tags don't appeal to you at first. It gives unimportant characters significance and adds new layers to characters we know well, and can effortlessly change moods in the blink of an eye. Dyce himself is snarky and charmingly amoral at times, but his solutions to some of the moral complexities in Skyrim are sure to please every audience, and his attitude toward sex gives the series a healthy, positive atmosphere.

The One from the End of the World by kelly1410

• Recommended by: ckmann
• Status: In progress
• Synopsis: Born on an island across the sea, an outsider arrives on the shores of Skyrim and tries to find a life for herself amidst great trials.
• Pairing(s): Female!DB/Ulfric Stormcloak
• Tags: Adventure/Fantasy
• Comments: This reads like a novelization of Skyrim, and the plot starts out a little slow, but it picks up after a few chapters. The shipping aspect of the fic is nice, but it is more of a subplot than the core of the story. Ultimately, it contains really interesting world building and OCs, and some of the more psychological and political aspects of life in Tamriel are explored in really unique ways.

AU

Stories where one fundamental aspect of the series is completely overhauled from its point of origin.

The Divine Champion by PhantomX0990

• Recommended by:
• Status: Dormant
• Synopsis: Alduin the World Eater has returned to finish what began centuries ago, only now there are no Dragonborn to stand in his way; save for one... The god of men must become man once more to reclaim his glory and stop Alduin once and for all. It is time for Talos to return to Tamriel. Contains a host of original and unique characters.
• Tags: Fantasy
• Comments: An in-progress Skyrim fic that follows the tale of the Dragonborn, who just happens to be Talos returned to the mortal world to stop Alduin. It follows the stories of numerous original and in game characters with each chapter containing multiple character perspectives happening all over Skyrim. The simple and to the point writing style make this an interesting read.
  • Doesn't follow the in game questline, like so many other cardboard cut out Dovahkiins.
  • Seconded: Good story overall, with a lot of original characters who take the roles/guild master positions that the main character would in game, leaving our Divine Dragonborn to do his duty.

Hero by Mistake by SkyrimJunkie

• Recommended by: Kyrean
• Status: Complete
• Synopsis: Bioarchaeologist. University professor. My name is Deborah, and I am not supposed to be here. I fell into a cave, hit my head, and woke up in a world with swords, barbarians, and magic. I’m lost and not understood, and my only friend has a penchant for blood warpaint.
• Pairing(s): F/M, M/M, Female Dovahkiin,Dragonborn/Stenvar, Female Dovahkiin,Dragonborn/Yrsarald Thrice-Pierced, Marcurio/Original Male Character(s)
• Tags: Graphic Depictions Of Violence, Major Character Death, Rape, Modern Insert, Bandits & Outlaws, Undead, Dragons, Gods, Fantasy, Alternate Universe - Medieval, Language Barrier, Culture Shock, Time Travel, Alternate Universe - Time Travel, Daedra, Portals, Historical Fantasy, Romance, Drama, Angst, Action/Adventure, Adventure, conlang, Constructed Language, Alternate Canon, College of Winterhold - Freeform, OC has no knowledge of Nirn, Dimension Travel, Reaistic, Modern Girl in Skyrim, modern to medieval, Modern OC
• Comments: A very well-done and believable modern-insert fic. There are some occasional sex scenes, but they do not by any means comprise the majority of the fic.
  • I disagree, I mean, at first I could over look the sex scenes in the beginning, but later? When your having so many sex scenes and no plot? I found reading was like sloshing through mud. I even finished the story, but I wouldn't continue reading the series, it was like one of those dollar romance books you could get at a thrift store.
    • It's true the first book in the series is slower but IIRC it's a character journey more than a typical fantasy. I think she has sex with 3-4 different people in a (very long) novel over the course of like a year or two. I have no idea what a thrift-store romance novel reads like but I didn't get that from this fic. The other books deal more with the game's major quests, like the eye of Magnus and Dawnguard. So more typical fantasy stories instead of a character-driven plot. The last book was slow too but I liked it. There's sex in all of them but I don't remember thinking any of it was gratuitous.

The Wolf Queen Awakens by Ms Katonic

• Recommended by: Aryhil, Mcnickel
• Status: Complete
• Synopsis: Dragons may signify the world's end but as far as Elisif's concerned, her world ended well before that when Ulfric Stormcloak murdered her husband. So it is that no one's more surprised than her when a dragon attack on Solitude reveals that there's more to the High Queen in waiting than anyone suspected.
• Pairing(s):F/M, M/M Elisif the Fair/Madanach, Ria/Vilkas, Erandur/Aranea Ienith, Argis the Bulwark/Farkas, Delphine/Brynjolf, Cicero/Eola
• Tags: Alternate Universe, Gen Work, Companions, Skyrim Civil War, Fantasy, Action/Adventure, Revenge, Blades, Dark Brotherhood - Freeform, Thieves Guild, Forsworn, Rated M for violence and drama.
• Comments: A fanfic that explores what Skyrim would have been like if Elisif, the Jarl of Solitude, was the Dragonborn. The result is a wonderful story that explores several different quest lines.
• Has a TV Tropes work page here.

The Song of Deirdre: A Memoir of Skyrim by Laurentius Aaronius

• Recommended by: ITNW 1989, Mike Rosoft
• Status: Complete
• Synopsis: Amid a time of political turmoil and civil strife, a young woman returned to Skyrim seeking vengeance upon the Nords, only to discover she was to be their savior. Met with feelings as mixed as her blood, this promised to be the most tumultuous journey her short life had known.
• Tags: Fantasy, Romance
• Comments: Combines adventure, the arcane arts, dragons, bold deeds and harrowing escapes, a celebration of the natural beauty of Skyrim, histories natural, human, and merish, discourses on religion and the mystery of existence, meditations on the nature of power in a land governed by might, and not a little romance. Main quest lines, well-told, with numerous twists. Femslash (eventually).
  • A first-person, narrative-based story told from the eyes of a half-Breton, half-Nord lass named Deirdre. One of the under-appreciated works on the site, the entire story flows nicely from one scene to the next, resulting in a gripping tale of a young girl's rise from orphaned thief to one of the greatest legends in Tamrielic history. Contains femslash between Deirdre and a certain spunky housecarl, though nothing explicit, and the focus remains on Deirdre's rise and growth as Dragonborn. Loosely follows the storyline in-game, but goes heavily AU later on. Finished in both the author's website and in ff.net, with the ff.net version having an extra little afterword.
  • The author has put the idea of sequels (he intends to finish it eventually as a trilogy) on the backburner, but may return to finishing Deirdre's story.

With a Dragonborn Like This... by ms_katonic

• Recommended by: kichithewolf
• Status: Complete
• Synopsis: Instead of an anonymous prisoner at Helgen, another Dragonborn has arisen. The Greybeards have called Cicero to High Hrothgar. What could possibly go wrong?
• Pairing(s): Cicero/Delphine
• Tags: Dark Brotherhood - Skyrim, Thieves Guild - Skyrim, Alternate Universe, Blades — Skyrim, Romance, Het, Action/Adventure, Crack, Female Character In Command, Femdom, BDSM, Dark Brotherhood — Freeform, Thieves Guild, Fantasy, College of Winterhold — Freeform, Polyamory, Threesome — F/F/M, Threesome, Threesome - F/M/M

Crossovers

Alternative Universe. The characters are written into a different world/universe/fandom than the one they are typically from.

Of Ice and Dragons by Ace Warbringer

• Recommended by Mister: Cuddlesworth
• Status: Dormant; last updated June 2018
• Crossover with: Frozen
• Synopsis: What happens when a person loses everything? When power is nothing more than pain to others? These are the questions that must be answered by both Queen Elsa and the Dovahkiin in a gripping tale of the adventures of both.
• Tags: Adventure, Fantasy
• Comments: A rewritten version of the original Of Ice and Dragons, this fixes the most prominent errors, and improves the overall quality of the story's writing, though the original is also worth looking at. The crossover proper takes some time to begin, but this allows for excelent character building for the nameless Dovahkiin.

Blood Ties By Igornerd

• Recommended by: SAMAS
  • Seconded by: Duesal Bladesinger
• Status: Ongoing
• Crossover with: Naruto
• Synopsis: In Helgen, a couple divorces, splitting their twin sons between them. The child left behind grows to a mighty destiny as the Last Dovahkiin. After a deadly battle, he finds himself in the Soul Cairn(again), where he finds the spirit of his brother, who had an amazing destiny of his own, in a land far across the sea. A journey he now wants the Dragonborn to undertake...

Rise of the Dragon Child by Elia41

• Recommended by auroVee
• Crossover with: Harry Potter
• Status: Ongoing — updates are irregular, though
• Fanfiction.net Synopsis: "When the True Dragonborn is killed by the Thalmor before uncovering his true nature, Sheogorath comes up with a crazy plan and Akatosh takes some drastic measures. Now, Harry is stuck in a world he knows nothing about, with nothing to his name but a pair of glasses and a black dragon that wants him very dead. What a start..."
• Synopsis: Harry, when running away from home at the beginning of the third year, is taken away by Akatosh into the land of Tamriel, as replacement for the True Dragonborn, who was killed by the Thalmor. Harry ends up being chosen thanks to the fact he already has a second soul inside him, and thus could have it replaced with a dragonic soul. This leads to him going through the events of Skyrim, but with a lot of changes, most of them being the fact that the Dragonborn is but a teenager, and Surprisingly Realistic Outcome occurs.
• Tags: Adventure, Fantasy
• Comments: A well written fic which, as of the time of writing, is currently only 21 chapters long with 78 thousand words, but it makes Skyrim more realistic, along with a few major changes, such as the fact that Harry is able to convince both sides of the cival war to leave Whiterun - which was his new home in Skyrim - out of the war, potentially sparing the Jarl from being killed should the story take the Stormcloak side of the war. Also, Paarthurnax plays a much bigger role, as he ends up being the one to bring Harry to High Hrothgar, and ends up being a good teacher of Dovahzul, the Draconic tongue.

Point Me at the Skyrim by Ridtom

• Recommended by: Ariachus and GarthSerca
• Crossover with: Ward
• Status: Ongoing
• Synopsis: Victoria Dallon. Scholar. Warrior Monk. Glory Girl. Antares. Dovahkiin? A new facet is brought to the fore as forces beyond reality clash, and a wayward hero finds herself in a world far older than her own, and yet similar in some ways. Setting forth to find her way back home, this unknown hero must face new foes and make new allies, lest she too fall prey to the machinations of those who crave her death... or worse.
• Tags: Fantasy, Adventure

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Fan Comics

The Sunder Hunt by Kytic

• Recommended by: Negazeia
• Status: Ongoing; currently updating on Mondays and Thursdays.
• Synopsis: The last Dragonborn is a reckless healer with minimal combat prowess. She joins the Companions to ripen herself as a warrior but unbeknownst to her the Companions harbor a dark secret. Now ensnared in a sinister deal she will have to sacrifice even more of herself to save the world.
• Pairing(s): None at the moment.
• Tags: Fantasy, adventure, sarcasm and good visual humor, Vilkas grumping, and pooooossibly eventual romance? For sure though there's depictions of blood and violent sword fighting where people get stabbed. And chomped on. It's nothing especially gorey, but still. View at your discretion.
• Comments: A relatively new comic that is now starting to settle into its stride. According to Word of God she's had this project in mind for a long while, at least since 2014, but has only now started posting pages. The story so far seems to work within the framing of the game's events for the Companion questline, at first, before being twisted by the plot through small actions that are characteristic of the protagonist. At the moment the plot is on the precipice of jumping off the tracks as a consequence of those small actions, which sells me on the concept immediately. I love a good branch trimming. Especially if it prunes back the original story just enough to give us something new. Wholly believable for the world of Skyrim, but new.
• Additional Notes: There is a mobile version of the comic that's being hosted on Webtoon Canvas.

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PREQUEL, by Kazerad (Link)

• Recommended by: Dirtyblue929
• Status: Ongoing^note though highly prone to unexpected hiatuses
• Synopsis: "PREQUEL is a story on the internet. It has been called several other things too, including "Making A Cat Cry: The Adventure", "Everything Is A Federal Fucking Issue And Also Trying To Make You Miserable", "Katia Managan: Alcoholic, Vasilikphobe, Adventurer", and "Slutcat Adventures 2: Daggerfall". All of these names are equally descriptive and accurate." — From the comic's about page.
• Tags: Adventure, Friendship, Dramedy, Occasionally NSFW, Affectionate Parody
• Comments: Started in 2011 shortly before the release of Skyrim, PREQUEL is a tour-de-force of Elder Scrolls comedy and surprisingly effective drama. Set a few weeks before the start of Oblivion, it follows a Hammerfell-born Khajiit immigrant to Cyrodiil with a history of alcohol abuse, no trade skills, No Social Skills, and a crippling phobia of royalty, in a hilarious and occasionally heartwrenching story about the struggle to improve oneself after hitting rock bottom. While it regularly flaunts the lore for jokes and has a generally farcical tone, it also shows an in-depth understanding of that lore that only enhances the comedy for those who are well-versed in it. Do note that the comic is somewhat infamous for its hiatuses, the most notable of which lasted for two whole years, though the author is very active in the comments section and tries to provide status updates whenever things get delayed.

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